Harvester.



S. E. MCPHERSON.

HARVESTER- APPI ICATION FILED FEB- 7. 19M.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 S. E. McPHERSON. I

HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 7. I914.

1 1.1 1 Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTULITHO" WASHINGIDN. O. C.

s. E. McP H ERSON.

HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1. 1914.

mwfi lmm Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

llNlE @AFFFF PATENT FFlt'JFi.

SAMUEL IE. McPI-IERSON, OE CHEROKEE, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 HANBY Ii. YOUNG, OF CHEROKEE, OKLAHOMA.

HABVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1915.

Application filed. February 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,293.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. MCPHER- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cherokee, in the county of Alfalfa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvesters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in harvesters and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use to head stalks of Kafir corn, milo maize and feterita and is an improvement over a similar machine contained in my copending application, Serial No. 789,666, filed September 13, 1913; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character of a novel and improved construction including a conveyer mechanism to which the cutting machine is directly attached.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved harvester whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, with a part omitted, of a harvester constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1, with the part omitted therein being shown in fragments; Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the device as illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating certain details of my invention as herein included; Fig. 5 is a view in bottom plan of the reel particularly shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view in perspective, detached, of the bearing or mounting member disclosed in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of that part of my device as shown in Fig. 7, opposite to the side shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in top plan of a portion of the body of the header illustrating the driving connection herein included.

In the embodiment of my invention set forth in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the body of my improved header which may be of any ordinary or preferred construction operatively connected with the supporting shaft 2, on which are mounted, in the usual way, the traction wheels 3. Operatively supported by one side of the body 1, as at 4, is a driving shaft 5 operatively connected through the medium of the sprocket chain 6 with the master sprocket wheel 7 operatively connected with one of the traction wheels 3, hereinbefore referred to. By this arrangement, it is thought to be obvious that as the header is advanced, the driving shaft 5 will be caused to rotate in order to properly drive the movable parts of my improved device as will hereinafter be more particularly referred to.

8 denotes the horizontally disposed platform or frame generally employed in headers and in the side-boards 99 of which are mounted, adjacent the opposite ends thereof, suitable rollers or drums, one of which being particularly shown at 10 in Fig. 7, around which is passed the endless conveyer 11 preferably formed of canvas and on which the severed heads fall and are conveyed to an elevator 12 operatively disposed on a proper inclination and which discharges into a suitable barge, as is usual. While the conveyer 11 may be caused to travel in any desired manner, I prefer to have one of the rollers 10, as illustrated in Fig. 7, mounted upon the shaft 14, herein shown for obvious reasons as of a jointed type, which is directed through the side-boards 99 and disposed longitudinally of the body 1 and provided at its inner end with a beveled gear 15 which meshes with a larger beveled gear 16 fixed to the shaft 5, hereinbefore referred to.

As herein disclosed, the shaft 14, adjacent the rear side-board 9 of the conveyer frame 8, has affixed thereto a sprocket wheel 17 around which passes, as is particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 8, a sprocket chain 18 which is also directed around and operatively connected with a second sprocket wheel 19 affixed to the shaft 20 of the lowermost roller 21 of the elevator and around which passes the endless apron 22 also preferably of canvas. It is preferred that the elevator 12 be supported by the platform 8 and forthis reason, such platform 8 is projected beyond one side of the machine, as is particularly shown in Figs. 3, 7 and 8, and the operative connection between the elevator 12 and the platform or frame 8 is such as to cause the apron 22 of the elevator to terminate below the conveyer 11 whereby it will be readily understood that the stalks and their grain will be deposited by the conveyer 11 directly upon the apron 22.

The frame 8 includes the tie or connecting bars 23 produced preferably of angle iron and secured to the under edges of the side boards 9, as at 24, and having their forward extremities 25 projected upwardly on proper inclinations and terminating in the horizontal portions 26 on each of which portions is suitably secured-a bearing block 27, such connection being afforded by the perforate ear 28 carried by the block 27 through which a suitable anchoring bolt 29 passes, such bolt being also directed through the portion 26, as is believed to be clearly disclosed in Fig. 1.

The blocks 27 are connected one to the other through the medium of the angle bar 30 secured to the upper rear portions there of through the medium of the anchoring bolts 31 suitably directed through the laterally disposed perforate ears 32 produced one upon each of such blocks 27, as is believed to be particularly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. WVhile I set forth this particular anchoring means, I wish to state that any other arrangement may be employed that will operate with facility.

The bearing blocks 27 serve as mountings for the horizontally disposed shaft 33 extended longitudinally of the frame 8 and for which purpose each of the bearing blocks 27 is provided with a transverse opening 34 as is particularly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Adjacent one end portion of the shaft 33, I aflix a sprocket wheel 35 around which is directed the sprocket chain 36 which is also disposed around a sprocket wheel 37 fixed to the inner extremity of a shaft 38 suitably supported by the forward side board 9 of the platform or frame 8, such support being effected through the medium of suitable bearings 39, as is particu larly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The outer extremity of the shaft 38 is provided with a beveled gear 40 in mesh with a similar. gear 41 affixed to a projecting extremity of the shaft 14 whereby it will be perceived that I have provided a convenient and eflective means whereby the shaft 33 may be caused to rotate upon the advance of my improved header.

Projecting forwardly of the bar 30 and suitably secured thereto, as at 42, are the forwardly directed guide members 43 substantially V-shaped in form and adapted to engage and direct the stalks to be headed into contact with the cutting edges of the knives 44 also suitably secured to the bar 30.

In order to assure proper action of the knives 44 upon the stalks as the apparatus is advanced, I employ adjacent each of such knives a reel hub 45 having its under surface provided with an axial recess 46 adapted to receive an outwardly disposed projection 47 produced on the upper face of a block 27 ,sueh recess 46 having in communication therewith the axial bore 48 through which projects the stub shaft 49. The lower extremity of such shaft 49 projects within the bore 50 of the projection 47 and is maintained therein against rotary movement through the means of the transverse pin 51 disposed through suitable aligning openings produced in the projection 47 and the lower extremity of the shaft 49, as is believed to be particluarly shown in Fig. 4. The reel hub 45 is held against displacement from the shaft 49 through the medium of the tap 51.

v Snugly' engaging the upper marginal surface of the reel hub 45 is a metallic concaved disk 52 and disposed above the disk 52 and equidistantly spaced one relatively to the other are the arms 53, such arms and disk being maintained in operative position upon the reel hub 45 through the medium of the bolts 54 or the like. The periphery of the disk 52 is formed with a cutting edge and is situated in close proximity to and in overlapping relation with the adjacent knife 44, whereby it will be readily perceived that such disk 52 will assist in severing the stalks to be headed.

As herein disclosed, the arms cooperating with each of the reel hubs 45 are four in number and are adapted, upon rotation of the reel hub, to contact with the stalks and throw the same against the knives 44. The cut stalks are toppled back and down with the forward advance of the header upon the conveyer 11, hereinbefore referred to, and in order that the requisite axial. rotation may be imparted to the reel hub, I have its under portion formed, as at 55, with a beveled gear surface meshing with a beveled pinion 56 suitably connected to the shaft 33, hereinbefore referred to.

Operatively supported by the bar 30 and the fingers 43 and the frames 58 are the sheathings 59 preferably of thin sheet metal which by their contact with the heads of the stalks serve to maintain the same in proper position to effect the severancethereof, certain of such sheathings, as at 60, be

ing undercut in order to in no wise interfere with the axial movement of the reel hubs d5 and their concomitant parts.

I also find it of advantage to further reinforce or support the guide fingers 43 and, as herein disclosed, I employ the brace rods 61 having their inner extremities secured to the bar 30 while the forward extremities thereof are secured to the inner face of the guide fingers at substantially their centers, as is particularly shown at 62 in Fig. 2. In order to assure the delivery upon the conveyer 11 of all severed heads that might be forcibly struck by the impact of the arms 53 and the natural advance of the machine, the screen 63 is provided which screen, as herein disclosed, is secured to the rear side board 9 and to the frame 6 1 projecting upwardly from the forward end of the body 1, as is believed to be clearly shown in the drawings.

In order that the cut heads may be properly deposited upon the conveyer 11, I interpose between the bar 30 and the forward side member 9 of the frame or platform 8, the apron 57 which is disposed on a rearward and downward incline, as is particularly set forth in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it is thought to be obvious that a harvester constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be employed to sever stalks of Kafir corn, milo maize, feterita and the like and to convey such severed heads to a proper point of discharge and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a body, a conveying mechanism carried thereby including side boards, tie bars connecting the side boards and having their forward extremities projecting thereabove, blocks carried by the uppermost extremities of the tie bars, forwardly directed guide members carried by the blocks, cutting members carried by the blocks, reels rotatably supported by the blocks and coacting with the cutting members, a shaft rotatably supported by the blocks, an operative connection between the shaft and each of the reels, and means for imparting axial rotation to the shaft.

2. In combination with a body, a conveying mechanism carried thereby including side boards, tie bars connecting the side boards and having their forward extremities projecting thereabove, blocks carried by the uppermost extremities of the tie bars, forwardly directed guide members carried by the blocks, cutting members carried by the blocks, reels rotatably supported by the blocks and coacting with the cutting members, a shaft rotatably supported by the blocks, an operative connection between the shaft and each of the reels, means for imparting axial rotation to the shaft, said reel including a removable cutting disk and a plurality of removable radiating arms, and means common to both for maintaining the same in operative position.

3. In combination with a body, a conveying mechanism carried thereby including side boards, tie bars connecting the side boards and having their forward extremities projecting thereabove, blocks carried by the uppermost extremities of the tie bars, forwardly directed guide members carried by the blocks, cutting members carried by the blocks, reels rotatably supported by the blocks and coacting with the cutting members, a shaft rotatably supported by the blocks, an operative connection between the shaft and each of the reels, and means for imparting axial rotation to the shaft, said reel including a removable cutting disk and a plurality of removable radiating arms.

4. In combination with a body, a transversely disposed conveying mechanism carried thereby including side boards, tie bars connecting the side boards and having their forward extremities projecting beyond the front side board and inclined forwardly and upwardly to a point thereabove, blocks carried by the uppermost extremities of the tie bars, cutting means operatively connected with said blocks, a bar connecting said blocks, and an apron connected to and bridging the space between the last named bar and the adjacent side board and disposed substantially entirely therealong.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL E. MOPHERSON.

Witnesses R. S. WILFLEY, H. B. KLIEVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

